Solar Companies will no longer have to worry about skilled manpower to provide quality servicing to their customers. Thanks to the joint initiative by Switch ON and National Institute of Solar Energy, West Bengal will now host and conduct regular trainings to develop solar technicians in West Bengal, through a 3 month long residential Surya Mitra Solar Skill Development program at TapovON Training and Innovation Centre in Nadia.

Satyajit Biswas,MLA, Krishnaganj and chief guest for the occasion, said, “We are happy that Suryamitra Program is being organized in TopovON in Nadia. I hope that participants will give services to the rural people of Bengal after the completion of the program.”

The Suryamitra Program was inaugurated by Chandan Banerjee, deputy director-general, NISE. Speaking on the occasion he said, “We are really happy to see the first Surya Mitra Skill Development Program take off in West Bengal. We are hopeful that will be a giant leap in addressing the skill gap in the Solar Sector!”

This training programme is sponsored by ministry of renewable energy. Each training programme consists of 30 participants and the total duration of the training will be 3 months. The eligibility to participate is plus-II, ITI electrician pass, polytechnic diploma (electrical and mechanical, ECE. Trainees will be trained in theoretical and practical knowledge of solar installation, commissioning, and Operation & Maintenance of solar power plants and equipment., and also undergo a traineeship with Solar Companies. At the end of the training, these skilled technicians will be placed at reputed Solar Companies in the state.

“The objective is to provide employability and entrepreneurship to rural and urban

youth. At the same time, create capacity within the state to address the challenge of energy crisis in the world, and be a part of the solution”, said Vinay Jaju,co-founder Switch ON, and head of the Innovation Centre.

The TopovON Centre also promotes innovative technology and business models to address the energy needs of rural India through sustainable energy solutions. Some of the innovative projects promoted include Solar irrigation for marginal farmers through formations of JLG, Solar Cold room for Farmer Producer Company, etc.

Additionally, the Centre promotes training-capacity building and a farm to form model for organic farming in Nadia. 100+ farmers in 3 villages in Hanskhali block

have converted to organic farming, and able to sell their produce at a premium.”Through our various initiatives, we aim to address challenges of energy and agriculture, and develop sustainable, scalable and replicable models for the

underserved populations in rural India”, said Ekta Jaju, CEO Switch ON. Such initiatives will have a lasting positive impact on environment and livelihoods in rural India, and show a pathway for its sustainable development in West Bengal.